SA hockey women in pre-Olympic action
29 May 2008
Fresh off the recently completed Interprovincial hockey tournament and victories by the national team over Canada and Russia before that, the South African women's hockey team to contest two four-nations tournaments in Europe in June has been named.
Three stars, who missed the series win over Canada and then the Spar Cup Tri-Nations title win over the Canadians and Russia, are back in the fray. Fiona Butler, Jen Wilson, and Shelley Russell, the sister of rugby Springbok Brent, were included in the 18-player squad.
Olympic Games
"It's very good to have them all back," said national coach Jenny King. "The Olympic Games are just around the corner, and it’s time we started consolidating and playing as a settled team."
Butler and Russell have both overcome injuries, while Wilson was rested for a four-nations tournament and the series against Canada earlier this year.
The first tournament South Africa will take part in will be played in Dublin from 11 June to 15 June. There they will face Ireland, Germany, and Great Britain. The second tournament runs from 24 June to 28 June and also features the Netherlands, Great Britain and India.
Great preparation
"They are both great preparation for the Olympic Games," said King. "Germany have just finished second to Argentina in the Champions Trophy, and the Netherlands are always very tough competitors.
"We haven't played Great Britain for a couple of years, so it will be good to test ourselves against them.
"Except for India and Ireland, who didn't qualify for the Olympics, we will all be going to Beijing. The Netherlands are in our pool at the Games, with Great Britain and Germany in the other pool, but the experience of playing strong teams like these will be invaluable."
Extra players
The 16-member team for the Olympic Games is set to be announced next week. "But we will be taking two extra players to Europe," said the coach.
"We need those two extra players to get some experience of being part of the national team," explained King, "and it also means that we have two players who can step into position if we have any injuries. It also gives us the option of resting players during the European tour."
South Africa may play an extra two matches on their tour of Ireland, with possible tests against the Irish on 18 June and 19 June.
The SA squad is dominated by players from Western Province, who won the Interprovincial title for the third year in succession with a 3-0 win over their arch-rivals Southern Gauteng. They have 12 players in the line-up, there are three from Southern Gauteng, including the captain, Marsha Marescia, and one each from Northern Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West.
SA SQUAD
Mariette Rix (WP), Sanani Mangisa (Nor), Cindy Brown (WP), Taryn Hosking (WP), Vidette Ryan (WP), Lenise Marais (WP), Lisa Marie Deetlefs (SG), Fiona Butler (SG), Kate Hector (WP), Marsha Marescia (SG) Capt., Kathleen Taylor (WP), Tarryn Bright (WP), Lesle-Ann George (NW), Jen Wilson (Kzn), Vida Ryan (WP), Shelly Russell (WP), Henna Du Bussion (WP), Farrah Fredericks (WP)
Fixtures: Dublin
- 11 June: SA v Ireland
- 12 June: SA v Great Britain
- 14 June: SA v Germany
- 15 June: Playoffs
Fixtures: Rotterdam
- 24 June: SA v Netherlands
- 25 June: SA v Great Britain
- 27 June: SA v India
- 28 June: Play-offs
SAinfo reporter
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